Defense ruled the day for the Chargers as they won 31-6 over Cardinal Gibbons on Senior Night and Coach Hall’s final regular season game at Northwood.
Senior linebacker Jared Worley came up with an interception on the first offensive play for Cardinal Gibbons on the night, picking off Gibbons quarterback Wesley Wagner. Worley would account for two interceptions on the night. Overall, Wagner would throw four interceptions on the night as Colby Stallings and Darius Cole came up with picks during the game.
“The coaches prepared us real well; we knew what to look for the whole night,” Worley said.
When the offense started to click in the first half, it was senior receiver/running back Kadarus Rone scoring from one yard out after senior quarterback Ti Pinnix connected with senior receiver Jalen Smith for 34 yards to set up the score. Rone would score again as he caught Pinnix’s pass and plowed through defenders on his way to the end zone for the 40 yard score. Rone caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Pinnix late in the third quarter for his third score of the night.
“I’m speechless; it feels so unreal that it’s my senior season; getting this win feels great,” Rone said.
The Northwood offense was held relatively quiet the whole second half, as Rone’s 15 yard score was the only scoring in the whole half. The Chargers’ other points came from senior kicker Tyler Whitaker on a 25-yard field and from senior safety/punt returner Darius Cole as he rode the sideline, shifting through defenders on a 50-yard punt return for a touchdown.
“I saw the sideline and the end zone I got a few good blocks from my teammates and was able to get it in,” Cole said.
The Charger defense, as they have many times this season, was able to keep the opponent quiet on offense as Gibbons came up with one score that came in the first half on a pass from Wager to wide receiver Sean Nalesnik. Other than that, the defense made up for a subpar outing by the Charger offense with solid play throughout the game to make the final score 31-6 Chargers.
With the win, the Chargers move to 9-2 overall in the regular season. The Chargers will now enter the playoffs next week and are looking to make a deep run.
“I’m not ready for this season to end; I want to go out with a ring on my finger,” Rone said. “Everyone says we’re one of the best teams to come through Northwood, and I want to prove that to everybody.”
The Chargers will play Friday at Northern Guilford at 7:30 in the first round of the 3A State Playoffs.
-By Jacob Sipe